London Array wind farm expansion is shelved

A huge expansion of the London Array wind farm off the north Kent coast will not go ahead.

A statement from the consortium behind the world’s largest wind farm put the decision to halt the next stage of development down to various factors - including uncertainty over the potential impact on birds.

Other reasons include a review by consortium members of their portfolios, the technical challenges and environmental uncertainties surrounding the site. The latter demands a wait of at least three years until Phase 2’s potential impact on birds could be completely assessed.

General manager Mike O’Hare said: “Phase 2 has always been subject to a Grampian condition requiring London Array to demonstrate that any change caused by the additional turbines to the habitat of the red throated divers that overwinter in this part of the Thames Estuary would not compromise its status as a designated environmental Special Protection Area.

“We believe it will take until at least January 2017 for that data to be collected and although initial findings from the existing Phase 1 site look positive, there is no guarantee at the end of three years that we will be able to satisfy the authorities that any impact on the birds would be acceptable."